Electric terminal



, Aug. 17,1948.

J. J. JORGENSEN 2,447,254

ELECTRIC TERMI-NAL Filed Dec. 1, 1944 k T/ Y Patented Aug. 17, 1948 U N I TE D STATES T FI'CE I EL-nornro TERMINAL Jesse'- lhforgensen, An'con, Z. 'ApplicationiDetcember 1, 19:44,:Serial'No;5%,1376

This invention relates "to terminal assemblies, and more particularly, isdirected to terminalassemblies for receiving conductor prongs for lighting circuits, electrical appliances, instruments, and the like, in which the making of a positive mechanical and'electrical connection of a semipermanent character is a prime consideration.

A main object of this invention is to provide a connector for a positive connection which is not subject to arcing, has a low contact resistance and is extremely simple to apply or remove.

Further objects of this invention will appear from the following description and claim, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal cross-section of one embodiment of a terminal assembly according to this invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a partial longitudinal cross-section of a modified terminal assembly according to this invention.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, a male contact member I is shown secured to an appliance 2. Male contact member I is provided with an integral flange 3 and a threaded end portion 4. End portion t extends into the appliance and may be permanently connected electrically thereto. A nut 5 is used to secure the threaded end portion is to provide tight conductive contacts to terminal 6, which may be the fiat loop portion of a conventional connector lug. Ordinar metal washers are used between the flange 3 and the outside wall of the appliance 2, and between the nut 5 and the inside wall of the appliance.

The female portion of the contact assembly comprises a cylindrical sleeve member I having an internally tapered bore 8 extending a substantial length inside the sleeve and terminating in a cylindrical cup-shaped top cavity 9. A flared chuck member or ccllet I0 of generally conical shape is fitted inside the sleeve member 7. Chuck member l 6 is provided with a central bore II to receive male member I. Bore II extends almost to the top of chuck member I0. The top portion of chuck member I5! is provided with a tapped collar portion I2 which is threadedly engaged by a machine screw I3 extending through an opening provided therefor in the top of sleeve TI. The wire I5 ispositioned between washer I4 under the head of screw I3 and the top surface of sleeve 1.

"Chuck member It is provided with a number oflorigitudinal; slots 15 extending substantially the --1eng-th ofthe flared portions thereof, forming chuck segments or jaws TH-and permitting the chuckseg-mentsor. jaws) to be squeezed .together responsive to wedging action of tapered surface 3 as the chuck member is retracted into sleeve 1 by the tightening of screw I3. The squeezing together of the chuck segments I1 is effective to establish a positive conductive grip on male member I.

In the embodiment of Figure 1, a coil spring I8 is provided in the cup-shaped cavity 9, bearing on shoulder I6 of the chuck member I ii. The function of the spring is to facilitate the release of the connector assembly when the machine screw I3 is loosened. The pressure of the spring tends to urge thechuck member II! out of wedging relation to the tapered bore surface 8. The disengagement of the male and female connector elements can be further aided by removing machine screw I 3 and inserting a substantially longer screw and by driving in the longer screw until it contacts the top of male member I. Further driving of the longer screw will push male memher I towards the lower and wider end of chuck member ID.

Sleeve member I is provided at the top portion thereof with parallel outer fiat surfaces 2!] for engagement with a wrench so that the sleeve may be held against rotation during the tightening or loosening of the connector assembly.

In Figure 4 a somewhat modified embodiment of the invention is disclosed wherein the spring member is omitted and wherein the top wall of the sleeve member I is formed by a washer 2|.

This provides a somewhat cheaper assembly and retains most of the important features of the embodiment of Figure 1.

While the foregoing description sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of this invention. It is, therefore, intended that no limitations on the invention be imposed other than as set forth by thev scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

In an electric terminal assembly, including a contact prong; the improvement comprising a socket member adapted to receive said prong, said socket member comprising a sleeve, said sleeve being formed with an internal bore, an end wall closing one end of said bore, said bore being outwardly flared toward said other end said lastnamed end of said bore bein open, said end wall being formed with an axially-disposed aperture therethrough, an electrical contact screw extended through said aperture, said screw havin a head outwardly of said end wall and adapted to clamp an electric wire against said end wall, a collet-like chuck element slidable in said bore, said element having an axial bore slidably receiving said prong, said element having gripping segments surrounding said last-named bore, said segments having tapered outer surfaces complementary to said flared bore, said member being formed with an inner end wall closing said bore therein, said last-named end wall being formed with a tapped aperture therethrough threadedly engaging said screw whereby rotation of said,

screw in one direction is operative to draw said member inwardly of said sleeve and segments into clamping engagement prong, said screw, member and prong being formed of current-conducting material, said member having a reduced inner end providing a shoulder, an expansive coil spring concentrically disposed about said end, one end of said spring bearing against said shoulder, and the move' said with said 4 other end of said spring bearing against said end wall of said sleeve whereby to load said sleeve and member for relative movement in a prong-releasing direction.

JESSE J. JORGENSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name 7 Date 594,077 Gauthier Nov. 23, 1897 1,166,408 Blood Dec. 28, 1915 1,202,923 Trood Oct. 31, 1916 1,416,102 7 Lusk May 16, 1922 1,951,393 Castroviejo Mar. 20, 1934 2,126,674 Stout Aug. 9, 1938 2,337,400 Maute Dec. 21, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 105,227 Great Britain Feb. 14, 1918 

